Major League Soccer 2026 Betting Odds & Lines - Bet on North American Football & Soccer

Major League Soccer (MLS) is North America’s premier soccer league. It features 30 teams from across the US and Canada competing for a chance to win the coveted MLS Cup.

Read on to find out your range of soccer betting options for MLS 2026 and what you need to know about MLS betting lines online at Stake Sportsbook.

What is the Major League Soccer?

The MLS is the top division of the USA’s soccer pyramid, though there is no promotion and relegation to other levels. Instead, much like the NBA and NFL, the league is formed by franchises that apply to be part of the league.

It includes two conferences - the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference - of 15 teams each. Winners of each conference qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup, a continental club competition much like the UEFA Champions League.

Winners of the MLS Cup, the final of the league, include teams like Inter Miami FC, LA Galaxy, Columbus Crew, and Los Angeles FC. Toronto FC remains the only side from outside of the United States to take home the top prize.

History of Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer (MLS) is a USA soccer league that was formed in 1996 and was part of America’s successful bid process for the 1994 international soccer tournament. It succeeded the North American Soccer League, and ten teams competed in the very first MLS season.

The US promised FIFA that it would establish a new premier soccer division immediately after the 1994 worldwide competition. MLS was created to replace the North American Soccer League, which had run from 1968 until 1984.

DC United dominated the domestic league in its early years, winning three out of the first four MLS Cups up for grabs. Despite some financial difficulties in the late 1990s and early 2000s, MLS endured, and several franchises were added to strengthen the league.

The Designated Player rule is credited with helping the MLS survive, allowing teams to sign star players such as David Beckham and Lionel Messi. However, interest in the MLS has also grown thanks to improved performances by the US National Team at international soccer tournaments. In 2022, MLS games had the fourth-highest average attendance of all major professional leagues in North America.

Format & Schedule of the 2026 North American Major League Soccer

The MLS season is split into two phases – the regular season and the postseason. During the regular season, each team will play 34 matches. This will include two games, home and two away, against each opponent in the same conference. In addition, teams play all but four or five teams in the opposite conference.

Just like in European soccer leagues, teams earn three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss in each game they play. At the end of the season, the team with the highest points overall wins the MLS Supporters' Shield. In addition, awards are given to the winners of the East and West Conferences, and there’s also the MLS League Cup.

However, the main prize of North American soccer is the MLS Cup, which is up for grabs after the regular season ends. The top teams from each conference enter the playoffs, competing in single-game elimination matches. The host is decided by which team has the higher points tally in the overall MLS table.

Here are the key dates for the 2026 MLS season:

February 21 - Season start
May 25 - Season break due to international soccer competition
July 16 - Season resumes
November 7 - Regular season ends
TBD - MLS playoffs begin

MLS Cup Championship

The MLS Cup is the postseason decider in Major League Soccer, not unlike the Stanley Cup in the NHL. The best-performing teams will face each other throughout the playoffs, with the aim of competing in the final to become the overall winner of the MLS and take home the title.

In 2025, Lionel Messi helped guide Inter Miami CF to their first final victory since their welcoming to the fold in 2020 as one of the MLS expansion teams. Javier Mascherano became only the seventh coach from outside of North America to win the Cup.

Which Teams Play in the Major League Soccer?

The 2026 MLS season will see 30 teams competing for the MLS Cup, expanding thanks to the addition of San Diego FC. LA Galaxy are the current holders of the MLS Cup, having won their sixth title. Inter Miami CF will look to defend its Supporters Shield, which they won for the first time last season.

Unlike other soccer leagues, such as the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, MLS clubs are owned by the league itself, although they’re operated by investors.

Here are all the teams competing in the 2025 MLS season:

Atlanta United FC - 1 MLS Cup (2018)
Austin FC
CF Montréal
Charlotte FC
Chicago Fire FC - 1 MLS Cup, 1 Supporters Shield (Last win - 2003)
Colorado Rapids - 1 MLS Cup (2010)
Columbus Crew - 3 MLS Cups, 3 Supporters Shields (Last win - 2023)
D.C. United - 4 MLS Cups, 4 Supporters Shields (Last win - 2007)
FC Cincinnati - 1 Supporters Shield (2023)
FC Dallas - 1 Supporters Shield (2016)
Houston Dynamo FC - 2 MLS Cups (Last win - 2007)
Inter Miami CF - 1 MLS Cup (2025), 1 Supporters Shield (2024)
LA Galaxy - 6 MLS Cups, 4 Supporters Shields (Last win - 2024)
Los Angeles FC - 1 MLS Cup, 2 Supporters Shields (last win - 2022)
Minnesota United FC
Nashville SC
New England Revolution - 1 Supporters Shield (2021)
New York City FC - 1 MLS Cup (2021)
New York Red Bulls - 3 Supporters Shields (Last win - 2018)
Orlando City SC
Philadelphia Union - 2 Supporters Shield (Last win - 2025)
Portland Timbers - 1 MLS Cup (2015)
Real Salt Lake - 1 MLS Cup (2009)
San Diego FC
San Jose Earthquakes - 2 MLS Cups, 2 Supporters Shields (Last win - 2012)
Seattle Sounders FC - 2 MLS Cups, 1 Supporters Shield (Last win - 2019)
Sporting Kansas City - 2 MLS Cups, 1 Supporters Shield (Last win - 2013)
St. Louis City SC
Toronto FC - 1 MLS Cup, 1 Supporters Shield (2017)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC

MLS Betting Tips, Predictions & Strategies

When Inter Miami signed Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets, it was with the plan of developing an MLS dynasty. For that reason, it is hard to look beyond a side that is packed full of stars, including another Argentinian in former Atletico Madrid man Rodrigo De Paul. He signed on permanently in the offseason.

However, Miami is not the only side with big names on the roster. Far from it. Son Heung-Min is the English Premier League’s highest scorer from Asia, and he now plies his trade with Los Angeles FC. He scored 9 goals in 10 games last season, and will look to carry that on in 2026 in a bid for the Golden Boot.

Elsewhere, Atlanta United will hope that once-record signing Emmanuel Latte Lath will be able to rediscover the form that earned him his move from English Championship side Middlesbrough, and combine with cult hero Miguel Almiron. If they do, they will also be on the warpath.

What’s more, there are a handful of tips and tricks that you can use to form a successful MLS betting strategy for 2026:

Consider national team involvement: The MLS will break, and some players will be involved more than others - this could have a major effect on form when the league is back. For example, Argentina will be tipped in international soccer competition picks to go far, so the likes of Messi and De Paul could be fatigued in the run-in following the break.
Look for talent: The USL Championship and other second-tier competitions are used for scouting and talent development throughout the league. National team players like Patrick Agyemang and Daryl Dike have plied their trades at that level, for example. Consider looking for players recruited from clubs in those divisions if you are betting on player performances.
Strategise and manage your bankroll: One of the best ways to ensure a successful betting experience is to make sure you are not burning through your funds at a rapid rate. If you read our blog, you can find guides on using bankroll management strategies like the Kelly Criterion to keep your funds working for you.

How to Bet on the Major League Soccer & Types of Soccer Betting

You can bet on the MLS easily at Stake.com by logging in or creating an account, ensuring there are funds added to it, and choosing from the range of soccer betting markets. If you are new to betting on MLS games, you can learn more with our sports betting guide.

You can then take a look at our soccer betting guide for specifics on everything from MLS futures bets to player props and point spreads. What’s more, you will be able to learn about the different bet types, including the following:

1x2: This is similar to moneyline bets, where you wager on the outcome of the game. Here, there are three possible outcomes. 1 refers to the home win, x refers to the draw, and 2 refers to the away win.
Draw no bet: If the match ends in a draw (tie), a no bet is declared, and you get your stake back.
Asian total: In this type of bet, you place a wager on the total number of goals you think will be scored in a game, over or under a specific number.
Asian handicap: An Asian handicap applies a handicap to the favourite and provides a headstart to the underdog as a way of levelling the playing field.
Double chance: A double chance lets you bet on two outcomes at once – such as a home win and a tie, for instance.
1st goal: Place a prop bet on the team (or the player) that you think will score first in a match.
Correct score: In a correct score bet, your job is to accurately predict the final score, be it 1-0 or 3-4, for instance.
Both teams to score: A popular soccer bet, both teams to score wager, is a bet on the fact that both teams will score in the fixture.
Half-time/Full-time: Place a bet on which team you think will be winning at half-time and then at full-time.
Outrights: Outrights, also known as futures markets, let you predict what will happen at the end of the season. You can bet on the eventual winners of the MLS Cup or Supporters Shield, as well as which teams will make the playoffs.

How to Live Stream Soccer & Live Betting Markets

In addition to placing bets ahead of games, you can bet on live sports at Stake. From the MLS to the Bundesliga, there are live betting odds for all your favourite leagues and the biggest events. Before you get started, consider learning the differences between pre-match vs live betting.

Elevate your live soccer betting experience by watching the fixtures live, keeping up with the action, and informing your betting decisions. You can watch all the biggest and best sports, and you can find qualifying fixtures by looking for the live streaming icon in our live and upcoming games list. To learn more, take a look through our live streaming guide first.

Major League Soccer Odds & Payouts

When betting on MLS odds, it’s important to understand what they mean in terms of the potential payout for wins and the probability of an event occurring. You should learn how to read odds before getting started, and then you can display your odds in a number of formats, including American, decimal, and fractional.

Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for Soccer Betting

You can bet on the MLS at Stake by logging in to your account using a secure method, such as a passkey , before making a deposit using a local currency or one of our available cryptocurrencies.

Our local currency options include popular choices like CAD, ARS, CLP, MXN, VND, TRY, USD in Ecuador, and INR. Take a look through our local currency payment guide for more information before getting started.

You can also use a crypto coin from our list of accepted cryptocurrencies, including BTC, USDT, ETH, Doge, EOS, LTC, SOL, and TRX. Check out our guide to choosing the right coin before you use a crypto exchange like Mesh, Moonpay , or Swapped.com to buy your crypto. Additionally, you can use Swap Crypto to directly exchange coins within your Stake wallet.

At Stake, we offer live support through our customer support staff, who can assist with everything from depositing and withdrawing units to crypto security, like using the Stake Vault to keep your funds safe.

Stake Sportsbook Promotions, VIP Club, & Responsible Betting

At Stake, we offer a wide range of sportsbook promotions that you can use to make your funds go further. These include regular rakebacks and reloads, as well as soccer-specific promos like Bad Beat Insurance and 2-Goal Lead Payouts.

You are also invited to join our VIP Club, where you can unlock exciting, exclusive rewards, including access to a VIP host who can provide personalized bonuses. To find out more about our loyalty program, read through our VIP FAQs.

It is important to always remember to gamble responsibly. You can learn more about staying in control and managing your gambling with our Stake Smart guidelines. Additionally, you can use our monthly budget calculator and betting limit guide as helpful tools to establish healthier gambling habits.